Father and daughter were talking in the back kitchen.
Old Man Ning’s house was not large, and the back kitchen was very close to the front room. Old Man Ning’s voice was loud, so Scholar Liang and Ning Yuqiao, who were sitting in the front room, could hear everything clearly.
Scholar Liang was a man of learning. Every movement he made carried the upright and refined bearing of a scholar.
Though raised in the countryside among mountains and rivers, he did not have a trace of the roughness of a farmer.
He sat upright on the wooden chair, his expression changing slightly, but his body showed no outward reaction.
It was Ning Yuqiao who felt guilty. She glanced at Scholar Liang uneasily.
She could not read anything from his dark eyes and could only find an excuse to leave.
“I’ll go help Father for a bit. You sit.”
Old Man Ning had planted several fruit trees in the yard. Pear blossoms and peach blossoms had just opened, pink and white intermingling, bringing a different kind of vitality to the rural courtyard.
Ning Yuqiao liked to eat pears.
Ning Yuchan liked to eat pears.
Old Man Ning had fairly planted two pear trees, and there was also an apricot tree.
Taohua also wanted to help Old Man Ning cook, but Old Man Ning stopped her.
“You’re a guest. It’s not your place to do anything. Sit and wait to eat.”
Taohua smiled. “What kind of guest am I? I’m here on behalf of my elder brother. If there’s any work, just give it to me. Don’t look at me being young, I’ve got plenty of strength.”
The people of the Huo family were all honest and simple. Old Man Ning liked interacting with them.
He also liked this twelve-year-old girl.
“There’s not much to do, just stew a chicken, fry some eggs, and steam a pot of buns. It’ll be ready soon. If you’re bored, go take a look at the peach blossoms in the yard. They’ve just bloomed and look very nice.”
The kitchen was small, and indeed could not fit four people.
Ning Yuchan also urged Taohua out. “Sister, Taohua, you two go walk around the yard. I’ll help Father.”
Ning Yuqiao did not like doing work in the first place. Now that she had become the wife of a scholar, she was even less willing to lift a finger.
Ning Yuchan’s urging suited her perfectly. “Alright, I’ll go take a look with Taohua. It’s only been two days, and the flowers have bloomed even more.”
Ning Yuqiao had her own thoughts and wanted to find out about her younger sister’s situation in the Huo family.
She pulled Taohua out with her.
Coincidentally, Taohua also had something she wanted to ask her.
The two of them went out together.
Ning Yuchan also had something to discuss with Old Man Ning.
The Huo family’s life was not good. They had only a few mu of land, Father Huo’s legs were not in good condition, Huo Changshou was still young, and relying on a few women to do heavy labor was clearly not easy.
Old Man Ning set up a stall selling steamed buns and pastries, which was quite a good livelihood.
If she could bring the Huo family into doing some small business, without seeking great wealth, just being able to eat meat every now and then would already be satisfying.
But if they sold steamed buns and pastries like Old Man Ning, it would seem like competing for business.
She had just married and could not cut off Old Man Ning’s livelihood.
So she planned to discuss it with Old Man Ning first. If they could reach a conclusion, she would then go back and talk to her father-in-law and mother-in-law.
When Old Man Ning heard that his daughter wanted to set up a stall, he firmly disagreed.
“Yuchan, it’s not like the Huo family can’t get by. You’re a young woman, how can you show your face outside doing business?”
Ning Yuchan reasoned with him, “Didn’t I help Father sell pastries before? How is that considered showing my face in public?”
Old Man Ning still disagreed. “It was already hard for me to raise the two of you alone. Besides, your mother had the skill. She taught me back then. It’s just that my memory is not good. I’ve forgotten how to make so many delicious pastries…
I married you into the Huo family so you could live a good life. How can I let you go out and set up a stall?
If that were the case, why would I marry you off? I might as well keep raising you.”
Ning Yuchan knew Old Man Ning cherished her.
She felt grateful in her heart.
But the Huo family’s situation was not good, and she had to find a way.
“Father, my father-in-law’s legs are not good. He cannot farm much land. We rely on the weather. If the weather is favorable, the whole family can get by, but if not… our whole family will go hungry.”
Old Man Ning frowned. “Is the Huo family really that difficult?”
Ning Yuchan nodded. “It really is. I used to think it was fine, but after Brother Huo went to the army, only four people were left. Those with poor health are unwell, and the young are too young. There is no income.
Old Lady Huo has money, but she looks down on my father-in-law and does not give them any share of the family property. She has several hundred mu of land, and even seized five mu from my father-in-law. My mother-in-law is almost furious to death.”
Old Man Ning felt distressed.
“Yuchan, since Changsheng is not here, why don’t I take you back? We won’t live such a bitter life.”
Ning Yuchan felt full of guilt.
She originally wanted to behave better so that Old Man Ning would be at ease, but she had not planned well and ended up making him sad again.
She wiped the water from her hands and said with a smile, “Father, I’ve already married Brother Huo. How can I come back? Marriage is not a game.”
Old Man Ning sighed. “I’ve wronged your mother.”
Ning Yuchan continued smiling. “My mother-in-law said that if Brother Huo does not return within three years, I can choose whether to stay or leave. It’s just that I am unwilling. My father-in-law and mother-in-law treat me well, and Taohua treats me well too. You worked hard to raise me for eighteen years, and I haven’t repaid you. I can’t cause you more trouble.”
Old Man Ning felt a sourness in his chest and reached out to rub his daughter’s head.
“Sigh, you’ve suffered.”
Old Man Ning went out to carry firewood. Ning Yuchan took out the risen dough, kneaded it into small portions, and after the water boiled, placed them on the steamer rack.
Soon, a pot of fragrant steamed buns would be ready.
She kneaded two portions of dough. Her forehead itched, and she casually rubbed it.
Not long after she lowered her hand, she felt a large hand, cold as if carrying a chill, rest on the spot she had just touched.
She could not help but look over.
It was actually Scholar Liang, looking at her with a very complicated expression.
Ning Yuchan’s breathing tightened.
Three days ago, he had still been her fiancé.
Now he had already become her brother-in-law.
She did not know how to face him.
Holding a piece of dough in her hand, she hesitated for a long time before finally speaking, “Brother-in-law.”
Once that word left her mouth, their relationship was set.
Liang Yunxian stared at her expressionlessly. “Do you really like him that much?”
Ning Yuchan felt a little lost.
She and her elder sister had agreed to give their respective explanations to their husbands’ families.
Her elder sister insisted that she liked Liang Yunxian, and she herself would never change her words, claiming she admired Huo Jingye.
Now that Liang Yunxian asked this, it seemed like there was a problem, yet also not a problem.
Just as she did not know how to answer, Ning Yuqiao arrived at the doorway and broke the awkwardness between them.
“Yuchan, hurry up, the water is about to boil.”
Ning Yuchan could not bother with Liang Yunxian and bent down to finish shaping the remaining dough.
Liang Yunxian did not leave.
Through her lowered gaze, Ning Yuchan could clearly see his stubborn grey-blue long robe.
Ning Yuqiao gritted her teeth and took the initiative to enter the room and pull Liang Yunxian out.
“Husband, this place is full of smoke and kitchen fumes. You are a scholar; you should not enter the kitchen.”
Only when Liang Yunxian was pulled out did his gaze finally leave Ning Yuchan.
Ning Yuqiao felt jealous, but she also understood the feelings between the two.
She secretly clenched her fingers. “Husband, my younger sister said she cannot control her heart. When facing you, she is still thinking of another man. That is unfair to you. She is Father’s most beloved daughter and has been spoiled. Just let her be.”
Liang Yunxian closed his eyes. The fragrance of the flowers filling the courtyard, for the first time, made him feel nauseated.
Liang Yunxian returned to the room.
They had just married, and he did not want to act impulsively and anger Old Man Ning.
He had to endure at least until after lunch.
In the afternoon, he would leave for the academy, and at least before the autumn examination, he would not return to Huojia Village.
After Liang Yunxian left, Ning Yuqiao squeezed into the kitchen and reminded Ning Yuchan.
“Don’t forget your identity. Yunxian will become an official in the future. Do you think you can hide this from him forever? Can you hide it from the officials around him?
When the time comes, will he become your accomplice and help you conceal it, or will he expose you?
Younger sister, you cannot be too selfish.”
Ning Yuchan had already accepted that she was a descendant of a rebel.
The farther she stayed from officialdom, the safer she would be.
If Liang Yunxian really became an official in the future, she would also attract extra attention.
If her identity were exposed and Liang Yunxian chose righteousness over family ties, she would be heartbroken.
If Liang Yunxian helped conceal it and the matter was exposed, it would be a crime of exterminating the nine clans.
It was better to remain in the Huo family, facing a household of rural people, where it would be easier to hide her identity.
“Sister, I understand. You don’t need to keep reminding me.”
After the hen was stewed, the family gathered around the table.
Old Man Ning sat with Ning Yuchan on his left and Ning Yuqiao on his right.
Liang Yunxian sat beside Ning Yuqiao.
Taohua sat between Liang Yunxian and Ning Yuchan.
At the dining table, Liang Yunxian did not speak, but his gaze rarely left Ning Yuchan.
The two were seated facing each other, making it convenient to look at one another.
Ning Yuchan had not eaten well these past two days, and her stomach was empty. She wanted to eat a few more pieces of chicken, but Liang Yunxian kept staring at her, and she truly could not eat freely.
Taohua felt restrained and did not want to embarrass the Huo family.
Though she craved the chicken and fried eggs, she held herself back and only ate the steamed bun in her hand.
Ning Yuqiao felt displeased and secretly poked Liang Yunxian twice.
Old Man Ning was neither blind nor deaf. How could he not see the undercurrents between them?
But the wedding ceremony had already been performed, and nothing he said would change it.
Moreover, he did not know that Ning Yuqiao had used Ning Yuchan’s identity as leverage.
After the meal, he called Ning Yuqiao behind the house and pressed her to tell him how she had been living in the Liang family these past two days.
Ning Yuqiao avoided the important points and refused to tell the truth, only saying that everything was fine.
Old Man Ning sighed. “I think Yunxian likes Yuchan. This matter will not be easily settled.”
Ning Yuqiao said angrily, “What liking? They were only betrothed and never performed the wedding ceremony. I am the one who entered the bridal chamber with him. It’s only that his feelings haven’t settled these past two days. Once he sees how good I am, he will naturally forget Yuchan.
Father, don’t meddle in this.
I will definitely become the wife of a provincial level scholar.”
Seeing that his daughter was stubbornly obsessed, Old Man Ning could not think of any good solution and could only let her be.
“In the future, whether your life is good or bad, you must not blame others.”
Ning Yuqiao did not think her life would turn out badly. “Yunxian is intelligent and good at studying. He will definitely pass the provincial examination. Father, don’t you want to be the father-in-law of a provincial level scholar, instead of just the adoptive father-in-law of one?”
Old Man Ning could not argue with his daughter.
Since things had already reached this point, they could only close their eyes and move forward.
“As long as you’ve thought it through.”
After lunch, the four of them prepared to return.
Old Man Ning packed the remaining half pot of steamed buns for his two daughters.
“I didn’t make any pastries, so take a few buns for your in-laws to try.”
After leaving the Ning household, Liang Yunxian kept following behind Ning Yuchan.
When Ning Yuchan walked faster, he walked faster. When Ning Yuchan stopped to look at the budding grass by the roadside, he also stopped, following her at neither a near nor far distance.
Ning Yuqiao felt angry, but she could not directly stop him.
After all, Huo Changsheng was not at home, and her younger sister had not consummated the marriage.
If Liang Yunxian became angry and brought her younger sister back to the Liang family, her own situation would become awkward.